Amanda Beard: Not Dating, or Hating, Michael Phelps

At least not more than anyone who hasn't bought that swimmer's Playboy issue.

With rumors swirling about these Olympians' activities out of the pool, Beard joked around with 93.7 KRQ Tucson's Johnjay and Rich in the Morning yesterday. Asked to classify her relationship with Phelps, Beard said:

Now, though, Beard is catching flak for her flippancy. She's been forced to clarify her remarks to a sensitive public:

"Everyone who knows me knows I can be a jokester, but I guess I took it too far," the four-time Olympian said. "I never meant to say anything rude about Michael. I am 100-percent sorry for what I said. I take full responsibility for it."